HAWFINCH. 



129 



flocks are seen all through the winter. They only nestle in 

 the wildest parts of the country. These birds reach in their 

 summer migration as far as Sweden, and parts of Russia, ac- 

 cording to Montagu ; and Temminck includes them amongst 

 the inhabitants of Siberia and Japan. In Corfu, according to 

 Mr. Strickland, this bird is a winter visitor, but irregular in 

 its appearance, being some years scarce, and in others very 

 common. It does not, however, breed there, but goes north- 

 ward in the beginning of April. In Mr. Drummond , s list of 

 birds of the island of Crete, this species does not occur ; but 

 it has been met with in Egypt in winter. 



In deference to the opinion above alluded to, of Mr. 

 Doubleday and Mr. Barclay, that this species does not in- 

 crease or diminish in numbers at different seasons in the 

 localities with which they are respectively acquainted, but 

 are in fact natives and permanent residents there ; it appears 

 probable that the many straggling groups that are to be met 

 with in various parts of England during the winter half of 

 the year, are foreigners, bred in more northern parts, and 

 induced through cold or dearth of food to visit these islands. 

 Their appearing here at uncertain times, and in greater num- 

 bers in winters remarkable for their severity, appears to fa- 

 vour this supposition. These presumed foreigners are also 

 much more generally diffused, occurring commonly in many 

 wooded districts, in various parts of England. There is 

 hardly a county from Yorkshire to the southern coast where 

 they have not been seen, and obtained at various times during, 

 and often simultaneously with, the first severe frosts. They 

 are rare, according to Selby, in the northern counties of 

 England, nevertheless a few captures have been made in 

 Scotland. They are not mentioned in a Fauna of Moray, 

 by the Rev. G. Gordon ; neither do we find this species 

 in Mr. Edmonston , s Fauna of Shetland. 



" The principal food of this species in Epping Forest, 1- ' 



K 



